To call the police on this family?

[catofdoom]

I live on a dirt road. It's single track and very windy. This particular part has a sheer drop off to the ocean.

Driving home with ds yesterday afternoon and out of nowhere two kids (between 10 and 12 I think) jump out at me and start pelting my car with water balloons. Trying to get them through the driver's window. (Luckily they didn't.)

They are my next door neighbours. They're only here for a month in the summer though.

It scared the absolute shit out of me. How I didn't crash in to a tree or go off the road I don't know.

I stopped and told them what a horrible thing to do it was and how dangerous it could have been. They laughed at me and ran off.

I drove home, turned around and drove back to go and speak to their parents (I'd seen the car home.)

Coming back they did it again!

I carried on past their house to go and sit further up the road and have a think. DH then came home and they did it to him too! He got out of the car and they ran off, their Mother was outside, dh told her what they'd been doing and she walked off and slammed the door in his face.

Turns out they did it to my brother in law the day before. They've been sat by the road with a big bucket of water balloons for a couple of days. Their Mother must have know, the only windows of the house and the porch look down at the road.

Anyway, so since we've had no apology. If it were my son I'd have marched him round there furious to apologise.

I want to lodge a complaint with the police (I've already spoken to the local policeman but he's not on duty until tomorrow night.) DH thinks we shouldn't stir things up. I think they could do with a talking to, I'm annoyed their parents clearly don't give a shit. Plus, if it happens again they could cause a nasty accident.

So I guess it's more of a - what would you do?

Also, we're in the States in an extremely low crime area (one burglary in 10 years) so I won't be wasting police time, they'd actually be thrilled to have something to do rather than sit on the side of the road trying to catch speeders.

That was a bit long, sorry. Didn't want to dd. (Dreaded dripfeed!)

I would definitely speak to the police about it, mainly because the mother didn't take it seriously. Something like that could cause a fatal accident, yanbu.

@MyOpinionIsValid

Can we not start with the anti American sentiment please? It happens way too much on Mumsnet and is pretty ugly.

I would report it too OP, the mother is being useless and it sounds very dangerous.

Can i ask where abouts you live OP, sounds lovely! Would love to live by the ocean

I would report. It could cause a serious accident and the mother sounds like she needs a boot up the arse. Perhaps the police having a word with her might shake her up a bit.

Ive got no idea if where you live is shoot-first-ask-questions-later sort of area. And please DO NOT put words into my mouth.

Report them. That sounds like what we’d call in the U.K. “antisocial behaviour”.

I reported some kids to their school for throwing snow balls during one bad winter, at old pedestrians too, and the local police twitter issued a warning.

I'd report it to the Police, I lived in the US most of my life and they will take it seriously and speak to them seeing that they could cause a fatal accident if you end up going off the track and into the Ocean.
Call and complain to the Police each and every time.

Yep I'd report that. You know the Mother isn't going to challenge their behaviour and you know it could potentially cause harm.

Shooting sounds fine imo. How many accidents could they cause?

My cousin actually did time in juvie for this. They were tossing water balloons at passing cars and it startled someone so much that they went off the road and wrapped the car around the tree. They weren't wearing a seat belt and went through the windshield. He and his friends were found guilty of manslaughter but because of their age were sentenced to juvenile detention.

I would call the police.

I would report them, especially as the boys seem to have absolutely no fear of the consequences and come to think of it the mother doesn't either.... Thank god they only live there one month a year!!

Agreed - they could potentially cause someone to have a accident, eg drive into a tree as you have suggested or off the road ( and down a sheer drop)
I,m not sure how much traffic the road gets, but even so the "prank" isn't very funny, and the parents are being far too laid back.

Yeah I'd report, definitely.

Definetly report it, it's so dangerous what they are doing and I am surprised no one's been hurt yet. Let see the mother try and slam the door in a police man's face!

Yup I'd report

Report them. The little bastards need a short sharp shock, especially if their parents are giving zero shits about their feral behaviour.

I would asked the police to come by in an unmarked car and see if they have it done to them.

I would too

Ive got no idea if where you live is shoot-first-ask-questions-later sort of area. And please DO NOT put words into my mouth.

really? you couldn't guess from the description of a coastal low-crime area that this wasn't the mean streets of Chicago?

See, childish person that I am, I'd be tempted to park car near to where they'd be, get dp to continue driving...and while they are distracted trying to water bomb him, treat them with my super soaker or a bucket of water over the pair. I am not very mature for an old woman

It's not only the 'mean city streets' that have had issues with police responses.
OP, assuming no concerns or disparities in the police approach, then I'd report them.
I'd also consider stealing their bucket of water balloons